Monica Avila Annotated Bibliography PART I #1 Bethel, Ellie, Michael Recycle.San Diego, CA: Jonas Publishing/Worthwhile Books, 2008.30 pages.Ages: 5-13.Genre:Contemporary Realistic Fiction/Fantasy.Language:English. Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel and illustrated by Alexandra Colombo is a book that talks about a super hero, Michael who comes to this town where there was no green and all the garbage was on the street, and were it never smell fresh, and where the people living there did nothing to fix the problem.But all this change when a green light came to this dirty town, it was Michael who had come and made the people of the town aware of the danger they were living in.Michael taught them how to clean and how to recycle to help the earth have a bright and longer future.Ellie Bethel was eleven when her first poem was published.She was born in Britain, but now lives in New York. This is a great book to have in the classroom.The illustrations are great; it is very colorful.I like this book because it can help students learn the importance of recycling.The print of the book is big and colorful; it allows students to see what could happen if we do not take care of the earth and at the same time, it allows students to feel like superheroes when they start to recycle.I think this book is wonderful.We can integrate this book into reading, writing, science, and history.We can make many projects with this book.The cover is super, it is very tentative and once you open it, you want to finish it to see what else Michael is going to do and how is he going to do it.This book is a great book to have in the classroom. Review by Monica Avila 6/01/08 #2 Flor Ada, Alma, Me llamo Maria Isabel.New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995.60 pages. Ages: 8-14. Genre:Non-fiction.Language:Spanish available in English. Alma Flor Ada is the author ofMe llamo Maria Isabel.This book talks about a girl who transfers schools after school has started.She is nervous because she thinks she is not going to have friends like she did in the other school.When she arrives at her new school her teacher changes her name to Mary, which she does not like and since she is given a name that is not hers, she gets in trouble for not answering when she is called by her new name.Maria Isabel wants to have friends and wants to be called by her name so made a wish.In one of her assignments she writes what she wants for Christmas and the teachers read it and then Maria Isabel is called by her name again.The writing is very detail and is easy to imagine the setting and create our own scene where things are happening.Alma Flor Ada is the founder and first editor in chief of NABE, Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education. She has been active for many years in various professional associations including; IRA, International Reading Association, CRA, California Reading Association, CABE, California Association for Bilingual Education, USIBBY, US Branch of the International Board of Books for Young People.In 200 she received the Pura Belpre Award, 1998, Once Upon a World Award, 1997, Premio Mundial Jose Marti, 1997, Gold Medal, Folklore category, 1996, Latina Writers Awards and many more. I loved this book.I think I have read it more than three times and every time I liked it more.I like this book because I can relate to Maria Isabel in the experience she had when transferring schools as well as the feeling of people changing my name.I like this book because I think that in the classroom many children can relate to the story.I also like this book because it is a way to engage students to talk about their feeling.This book also bring out the importance of respecting the differences in each culture and at the same time it shows the important it is to see students as individuals and unique persons.This book is great.With this book we are opening the door for students to talk more freely and to see possible ways to help students like Maria Isabel.I think that many projects can come out of this book, especially those related to cultural differences, and the identity and background of the students. Review by Monica Avila 5/30/08 #3 Munoz-Ryan, Pam, Esperanza Rising.New York: Scholastic, Apple Paperbacks, 2007.262 pages.Ages: 12 and up.Genre: Young Adult Novel.Language: English. Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan is a book that talks about Esperanza a young girls who lives in Mexico and who thinks she is going to live there her whole life.Esperanza is happy where she is at, she has her parents and abuelitos with her, and she is enjoying life.Later Esperanza finds out she is moving to California looking for a better way of life.She is young and cannot work in the fields like her parents, but soon her mother becomes ill and Esperanza needs to find a way to help her family and rise from where she is at.Pam Muñoz Ryan is the winner of the Pura Belpre Award, Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner, ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, Lon Angeles Times Books Prize Finalist, New York Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Publisher weekly Best Book of the Year. This is one of my favorites books, I completely relate to Esperanza.I think that this book is perfect for children who immigrated to this country leaving everything behind and starting a new life far away from home.I think this book is wonderful, it will help students see the struggles and achievements that immigrants go through and all because they are looking for a better way of life.I definitely want this book in my classroom; it is a book that I think all children need to read.First of all is a book that is easy to read, very detail that students can imagine the setting and put themselves in Esperanza’s place.This story narrates the story of one child, which means that students will be interested in writing their own stories.This book can open the doors for students to become a better writers and why not maybe future writers.I love this book I think every classroom should have this book in the library.Many good projects can come out of this reading.We just need to wait and see the responses of the students and from there we as teacher can get the ideas for future projects that include this book.A very nice book, I will definitely recommend it. Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08 #4 Pellzer, Dave, A Child Called “IT”.Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, 1995.184 pages.Ages: 15 and up.Genre:Chapter book/Survival story.Language: English. A child called “IT” written by Dave Pelzer is a narration of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history.This book is the story of Dave Pelzer who was abuse by her mother and neglected by his father.Dave saw his father as his super hero and was expecting his father to help him to stop the abuse but as time went by, his father couldn’t help him, and he will just sit there and watch how his wife abused him.This story is very sad and it shows how Dave was asking for help silently because he was afraid of reporting what his mother was doing to him because he would get bitten up or starved to death, or his mother will give him ammonia to drink.In this book they talk about how a child can be wrongly label and because of his label no help is provided to him, he is seen as the bad boy who doesn’t showers or changes clothes, the child who all the other children make fun of, without knowing what is really happening to him.In this book they also provide additional information and sources of where to go and get help.Dave Pelzer is the #1 New York Times and #1 International Best selling author and Recipient of the 2005 National Jefferson Award.Dave was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Americans.In 1994 Dave was the only American to be honored as the Outstanding Young Person of the World.In 1996 he carried the coveted centennial flame for the Olympic games.Dave is the author of six inspirational books two of which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.As an author Dave is the first to have four #1 International Best Sellers and to have four books simultaneously on the New Your Times Best Seller List. I think this book is a good book for older children.This is a strong book and many people could get bad ideas of how to torture other students therefore special care should be given to this book.I think that this book is a book that can be used in the classroom but always-reminding students why this book is been read.I think this book can help students who are been abuse by their caretakers.I think this book will help them see that there is hope and that it is very important to talk to their teachers or counselor if there are any similar problems with them. I think that this book could be used in the classroom as a special project. Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08 #5 Piggy Toes Press, Good Morning, Good Night!Buenos dias! Buenas noches!.Atlanta, GA: Piggy Toes Press, 2005.12 pages.Ages: 2 and up.Genre:Picture Book. Language:Bilingual (English/Spanish). This book was illustrated by Melanie Mitchell and designed by Laurie Young.There is no author for this book, but Piggy Toes Press published this book.This is a touchable book, which is perfect for children because they can feel the soft, fluffy fur or each animal.This book is a bilingual book, English and Spanish.This book shows different animals, cats, dogs, little bunny, chick, lamb, and a child.The pictures show what each character of the book does in the morning and at night.There is repetition in the words used in the book.The sentences are short and the words are easy to read.Children can go page by page and they can feel the fur of each animal.The colors and drawings are very authentic. I loved this book because the children can touch and feel in the book how touching a real animal would feel in reality.The detail pictures the fur that is included in the book is amazing.I liked this book because it can cover all learning styles, children can touch, see, and listen, I think this book is great, the colors, the details in the pictures and what I liked the most is that it can help students to learn a different language.This book is written in English and Spanish, children can become familiar with a new language and I think this book will help them to feel comfortable with the new language.This book can easily be incorporated in different areas, for example, language arts, math, science, and art.This book is small but has a lot to offer to the teacher and students.I will definitely recommend this book for the classroom. Review by Monica Avila 5/30/08 #6 Reiser, Lynn, Tortillas and Lullabies.Library of Congress, 1998.40 pages.Ages: 7-13.Genre:Traditional Literature.Language:English/Spanish. Tortillas and Lullabies by Lyn Reiser and pictures by Corazones Valientes is a book that talks about a young girls who is describing what are some of the things that her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother did for their daughters, and how know she is doing it to her doll.This book talks about how to make tortillas, talks about the flowers, washing, and lullabies that were sang to her and the other woman in the family.The book has colorful pictures and good combination of colors.This book relates the traditions and common activities that are pass on generations over generation.Lynn Raise was born in Charlote, North Carolina, she created her first picture book with no words later she added the words and ever since she enjoys putting together a book.Reiser is also a doctor and a professor at a university.She is acclaimed for children books, including the bilingual books “Margarita y Margaret; The lost Ball/La pelota perdida”. This book is a very nice and easy to read book.I like the pictures, they are very colorful and the best part is that the pictures represent how traditions are carried over generation after generation; even the simplest one is remember.I like how they show the relationship between mothers to daughters, and how the traditions are pass on.I think this book ca be very useful in class it can easily be integrated into different areas; language arts, history, social science, and many more.I personally like this book because it brought me memories from when I was a child and I visited my grandmother as well as when my mother was making tortillas, I was always there so I could eat a tortilla right after it was done.Those are good memories.This book can either bring students memories back or it can activate students’ curiosity to see and know what their grandmothers did with their mother or father.I think this is an excellent book to have in the classroom; many uses can be given to it. Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08 #7 Rossetti-Shustak, Bernadette.I Love You Through and Through.New York: Scholastic, 2005.23 pages.Ages: 0-6.Genre: Picture Book.Language:English. In this colorful and simple picture book, Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak presents a book about how much parents love their little babies. The books shows how children are loved no matter where they are or what they do.If they are happy, or sad, if they are inside or outside, if they are silly or mad, they loved every part of them even the smallest part of the babies is loved by their loved ones.The pictures talk for themselves, the pictures are very detail and colorful, the pictures relates to the feeling and place that is been talk about.The book was illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church.Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak assistant to the Head of School, she created and was the editor of Mizzen-topics, she school’s weekly newsletter.She majored in English and then Business at County College of Morris, Dover, New Jersey.Bernaddette Rossetti-Shustak is a published children’s author and the recipient of a 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award. I really like this book “I Love You Through and Through” by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak.I think that this book is great to have in our classroom, because it is simple and children can just look at the pictures and make their own story, I also like it because it has small sentences, and the words are very easy to remember.This book has also repetition, which I think is great especially for smaller children.I think at this age children are very closed to their caretakers and this book will help them bring memories of their own or give them ideas of what to do or say to their love ones.I like this book because the pictures are very nice and the colors are beautiful.The children can find out the meaning of a word just by looking at the pictures.I think this is a great book to have in the classroom or at home.This book can be of many uses in the classroom. Review By Monica Avila 5/30/08 #8 Sendak, Maurice, Where The Wild Things Are.Library of Congress, 1963.44 pages.Ages: 5-9.Genre:Picture Story Book.Language: English, available in Spanish. Where the Wild Things Are was written and created by Maurice Sendak, whom also created the pictures.This book is the winner of the Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year.This book is about a boy whose imagination is very powerful, he dreams he has supper powers and can dominate the most savage bests.Max was grounded for disobeying his mother and he is sent to his room with no food, there in his room he starts to imagine he is in a forest and soon he is the king of the monsters and has his own ship.The pictures of this book are excellent, the reading is easy and children can use the pictures to understand the words.Maurice Bernard Sendak is an America writer and illustrator of children’s literature, he is best know for his book “Where the Wild Things Are”, He received in 1964 the Caldecott Medal for his book “Where the Wild Things Are”, In 1970 he won the Hans Christian Andersen Awards for children’s book illustration, an din 2003 he shared the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award with Christine Nostlinger, the first time it was awarded.In 2009 a live action feature length film of Where the Wild Things Are is planned. At first I didn’t like this book much because the cover was not to tempting.I looked at it and put it to the side.Then I decided to open the book and scan through it, well good thing that I did.This book is nice not for nothing is the winner of the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book of the year.I like this book because I think all the children dream of what Max is dreaming in this book.It is also nice to see that Max has achieved what he wanted; be the king of the monsters but later he realizes that he missed his family and the food and wants to come back, I think that the message this books gives is very powerful, children can dream all they want as long as they realize that it is only a dream.I will loved to have this book in my classroom, but what I liked the most is that this book is also in Spanish.Yeah, it is a good book. Review by Monica Avila 5/30/08 #9 Smith, Charles R. Jr., The Mighty 12 Super Heroes of Greek Myth.New York: Hachette Book, 2008.48 pages.Ages:11-15.Genre:Historical Fiction.Language: English. The Mighty 12 Super Heroes of Greek Mythby Charles R. Smith Jr. and illustrated by P. Craig Russell is a book that talks about the Greek Gods and Goddesses.The illustrations create a magical view and the book is written as a poem.This book talks about the gods and goddesses of the Olympus and the super power that they suppose possessed.The drawings are very details and it is easy to run our imaginations as we read the poems describing each and everyone of the gods and goddesses.Charles R. Smith Jr. is the acclaimed creator of many books for kids of all ages.Some of these titles include Rimshots, I am America, and Twelve Rounds to Glory: The story of Muhammad Ali.HE received the 2008 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award, 2008 Norman Sugarman Best Biography Honor Book. The first thing I liked about this book was the cover; the cover is very tentative.The drawing on the cover is amazing it made me wanted to read it.I think this is good because children go by the cover, if they see a book’s cover and they like it they will pick the book, but if they don’t like the cover they wont even open the book.This book is very nice because its drawings are very comic like, but what I liked the most is the way in which the text is written, the text is written in a poem form.It is nice and interesting.I think this book is good because it is something the children are interested in and besides learning Greek Mythology they are going to be reading and learning about poems and everything related to it.This is a nice book to have. Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08 #10 Thompson, Gare, Who was Helen Keller?.New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2003.107 pages.Ages: 12 and up.Genre:Non-Fiction/Chapter book.Language:English. Who was Helen Keller? by Gare Thompson and illustrated by Nancy Harrison is a book that describes the life of Helen Keller.This book is a Biography of a woman (Helen Keller) who was blind and deaf, but that did not stop her from achieving her goals and become someone important in the world.She was assisted by one of her teacher Annie Sullivan.Helen Keller achieved success and fame and her blindness and deafness did not stop her.Gare Thompson has over 25 years of publishing experience, holding executive positions at Scholastic and Sundance.He is an award winning children’s author and playwright and is a frequent speaker at national and state reading conferences. I like this book because the print is big and it is written in chapter format.I like this book because it is an informational book.Children will like to read it because it is easy to read and is small. Children will not even know that they are learning.The book is very nice and it has pictures on every page.The book is black and white, which I don’t like much because I preferred colorful pages, but in this case with this book it, is nice, the black and white go with the era that this book is talking about.This book can be very useful for children.I will for sure have this book in my classroom library.I think this book will engage students’ enthusiasm and they will be willing to learn more about other famous people.I loved this book. Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08
Monica Avila Annotated Bibliography Part II #1 Anonymous, Nursery Rhymes.San Diego, CA: Silver Dolphin, Advantage Publishers Group, 2003. 22 pages.Ages: 3-6. Genre: Poetry/Rhymes.Language: English. Nursery Rhymes is a collection of illustrated nursery rhymes and children’s poetry written by different authors.This book was illustrated by Susie Lacome.This has short rhymes and poems that can be used with students.The book is very colorful and the surface of the book is very smooth and touchable.The pictures that go with the rhymes and poem are pretty. I loved this book; the pictures and the texture of the book are beautiful.Children will love this book.The nursery rhymes and the poems are easy to remember and you can use them with a song rhythm.The rhymes are very contagious and children will enjoy reading or singing the rhymes and looking at the pictures.I will definitely recommend this book for the classroom library. Review by Monica A. 6/20/08 #2 Anzaldua, Gloria, Friends from the Other Side/Amigos Del Otro Lado. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press/Libros para niños, 1993.30 pages. Ages: 7-14. Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction. Language: Bilingual English/Spanish. Friends from the Other Side/Amigos del Otro Lado by Gloria Anzaldua and illustrated by Consuelo Mendez.This is a bilingual book English/Spanish.This book is about a brave Mexican American girl, who defends Joaquin her new friend from the neighborhood kids who are shouting “wetback” “mojado.”Gloria Anzaldua is a major Mexican American literary voice.Anzaldua was born in Rio Grande Valley of south Texas and die for diabetes complications.She suffered from racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression as she was growing up.She lost her father at the age of 14.Graduate from Pan American University with her BA and then received her M.A. form University of Texas at Austin.Anzaldua has received the following awards: Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, Lambda Lesbian Small Book Press Award, Lesbian Rights Award, Sappho Award of Distinction, National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Award, and American Studies Association Lifetime Achievement Award. I liked this book because many students will be able to relate to the story.I was able to relate to the story and it brought me back memories.I like this book because it can be incorporated into many different areas and I think is a good inspiration for students to talk or write about their feelings and possible ways to help new comers.This book can be used for 2nd up to 6th or 7th grade, the illustrations are nice and the combination of colors is great.I think that this book is a must have in the classroom library. Review by Monica Avila 6/20/08 #3 Anzuldia, Gloria, Prietita and the Ghost Woman/Prietita y La Llorona. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press/Editorial Libros Para Niños, 1995. 30 pages.Ages: 6-13. Genre: Traditional literature/Fiction.Language: Bilingual English/Spanish. Prietita and the Ghost Woman/Prietita y La Llorona written by Gloria Anzaldua and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez is a book about a young Mexican American girl, becomes lost in the forest on her search for and herb to cure her mother and the Ghost woman helps her find her way back to her family.Gloria Anzaldua is a major Mexican American literary voice.Anzaldua was born in Rio Grande Valley of south Texas and die for diabetes complications.She suffered from racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression as she was growing up.She lost her father at the age of 14.Graduate from Pan American University with her BA and then received her M.A. form University of Texas at Austin.Anzaldua has received the following awards: Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, Lambda Lesbian Small Book Press Award, Lesbian Rights Award, Sappho Award of Distinction, National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Award, and American Studies Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
This book is nice because it talks about the common myth of La Llorona.I think many children have heard of La Llorona and they can easily be involved on a discussion about it; they can also write their own stories or create a new one.I think this book is also good because it talks about how this young girl goes beyond her capacity to help her mother and she is not afraid and does not give up.I really like this book, and the pictures and colors and beautiful.I recommend this book for our own reading as well as to have in the classroom library.Another good think about this book is that is bilingual English and Spanish. Review by Monica Avila 6/20/08 #4 Anzaldua, Gloria, Borderland/La Frontera.3rd Edition. San Francisco, CA, 1987. 246 pages.Ages:14-adults.Genre:Non Fiction.Language: English/Spanish. Borderland/La Frontera written by Gloria Anzaldua and first published in 1987.This book as become a classic in Chicano border studies, feminist theory, gay and lesbian studies, and cultural studies.According to Anzaldua, “The essays and poems in this volume profoundly challenge how we think about identity.” Gloria Anzaldua is a Chicana, a lesbian, and activist, and a writer. I loved this book because it makes you think on what is really happen at the borders.And how many people do not see what is really happening.This book is really good to use in class starting from 7th grade all the way up to college.With this book students can engage in many different activities and it will make them want to do something about the situation.Many projects can come out of this book.This book is a must have book.Also even though I said if for higher grades, some of the poems or essays can be given to smaller children and they can also participate in different activities and projects with this book.This book can be integrated into Language arts, Social studies, Political science, and I think in art, math, well it can be included in almost all subject areas.A very good book in the classroom library or even at home. Review by Monica Avila 6/21/08 #5 Blanco, Jodee, Please Stop Laughing at Me. Avon, MA: Adams Media an F+W Publications Company, 2003. 276 pages.Ages: 13 and up.Genre:Survival Story. Language: English. Please Stop Laughing at Me written by Jodee Blanco is an inspirational story.This is the first book written by a survivor of peer abuse.This powerful, unforgettable memoir chronicles how one child was shunned and even physically abuse by her classmates from elementary school through high school.Jodee Blanco is a faculty member of New Your University’s Center for Publishing and the President and a founding partner of Blanco & Peace Enterprise, LTD., one of the nations’s most respected public relations firms. I think this book is great for students because it touches an important issue that many students at one point of their lives have lived; either as the bully or the bullied.The vocabulary on the book is simple and it gives a lot of details.I will definitely recommend this book to have in the classroom library.This book can be adapted to the language arts, social science, psychology, and other subject areas.I think this book is good to have and I will definitely recommend this book for our own library and for the classroom library. Review byMonica Avila 6/21/08 #6 Clair, Chip St., The Butterfly Garden. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 2007.250 pages.Ages: 15 and up.Genre:Survival Story.Language: English. The Butterfly Garden written by Chip St. Clair is a memoir of a child who was physically and mentally abuse.This book narrates the story of a child who suffers abuse from his own parents and does not even know why.Chip St. Clair is the recipient of a U.S. Congressional Record for his ardent advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children and fights to keep child predators behind bars.He began sharing his story nationally in 2002, and has been feature on network television programs such as Dateline and Good Morning America.He has fought relentlessly for tough legislation aimed at protecting children, most recently helping to pass Montana’s, Maryland’s and Michigan’s version of Jessica’s Law; a law inspired by the kidnapping, rape, and murder of nine year old Jessica. This book can be used in the classroom to make students aware of what is been physically and mentally abuse, so they can be aware and know the signs of neglect as well as knowing how there is help for those people and what they can do to prevent this from happening to them.I think this book is very good and I will recommend this book for our own reading as well as to encourage students to read it.From this book many activities can come out it.I will definitely recommend this book for the classroom library and even more for an assigned reading.This book is sad but if used correctly it can be of great use. Review by Monica Avila 6/21/08 #7 Comer, Karen, My Nursery Rhymes Collection.Heatherton Victoria, Australia, 2006.246 pages.Ages:4-12.Genre:Poetry/Rhymes.Language: English. My Nursery Rhymes Collection is a collection of rhymes by different authors but edited by Karen Comer and illustrated by Anton Petrov, Andrew Hipgood, Melissa Webb, Gerald Taylor, Geoff Cook, Bill Wood, and Marten Coombe.This book is a book of illustrated nursery rhyme that offers to parents and children the joy of reading all the best loved rhymes, as well as discovering some of the less familiar ones.This book is divided into twelve themes, such as farm animals, numbers and action rhymes, creating shorter sections to suit the attention span of young readers. This book is amazing, the pictures that go with each rhyme is very detail and says a lot of the rhymes.The use of colors and the way the pages is arranged is very provocative and beautiful to enjoy.You would not get tired of looking at the pages over and over again.I think that children will enjoy this book very much.I will definitely recommend this book to have in the classroom library.I really liked this book; you can make good use of this book in the classroom. Review by Monica Avila 6/21/08 #8 Grogan, John, Bad Dog, Marley!. Harper Collins Publishers, 2007.Ages: 3-8. Genre:Picture Story Book.Language:English. Bad Dog, Marley! Written by John Grogan and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey is a picture story book for ages 3-8.The pictures and use of colors is interesting.This book is about how a family receives a new puppy and the hard work it takes to train the puppy not to destroy the house.Richard Cowdrey is an award winning newspaper columnist and a former editor in chief of Organic Gardening magazine.He lives with his wife and three children, and their new dog, Gracie, in the Pennsylvania countryside.His first book, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog, is a #1 international bestseller with 3 million copies in print and rights sold in more than two dozen languages. I think this book is very funny and many students will be able to relate to the story in one way or the other.The pictures and the colors are very attractive and the writing is easy to read and understand.This book can be used in the classroom and many activities can come out of it; for example: writing their own book about a pet they have or had, the experiences they went through.Another activity could be an outing to a dog house, or having a dog come in to the classroom.I think this book allows the opportunity to be creative and use our imagination, but at the same time we can refer back to our own experience with a pet.I will recommend this book; it is very funny and creative. Review by Monica Avila 6/22/08 #9 Lewis, Clives Staples, Narnia Chronology: From the Archives of the Last King.New York, NY, 2008.32 pages.Ages:7-16.Genre:Contemporary Fantasy.Language: English. Narnia Chronology from the Archives of the Last King is an interactive timeline based on the books by C.S. Lewis and illustrated by Pauline Baynes, Mark Edwards for Artist partners and Chris Hahner for Artful Doodlers.This book is full of fantasy and the pictures are wonderful.This book has pop ups and pull tabs which makes this book more interesting and amazing.This book is very children friendly and young adult interesting.C.S. Lewis was an Irish writer and scholar.Lewis’s works are diverse and include medieval literature, Christian apologetics, literary criticism, radio broadcasts, essays on Christianity, and fiction relating to the fight between good and evil. I loved the way this book has the pop ups and pull up tabs, the color and the illustrations are amazing.I think this book is very children and young adult calling.The colors are very colorful and the way the book is arranged is very nice.This book is full of fantasy and it invites students to use their own imagination.This book allows students to use their imagination which is nice because this can activate students’ interest in writing their own stories and creating their own books.I will recommend this book to have in the classroom library.I personally loved the book, starting from the cover to the last page.This book caught my attention just by looking at the cover and once you open it up it will make you want to read just to keep looking at the illustrations.A really nice book; I will definitely recommend this book to have in the classroom library. Review by Monica Avila 6/22/08 #10 McBratney, Sam, You’re All My Favorites. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2004.31 pages. Ages: 6-11.Genre:Picture Story Book.Language:English. You’re All My Favorites is a book written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram.This is picture story book that talks about how mothers love all their children the same and it does not matter how different or similar they are.The pictures in the book are great and the writing is simple.Sam McBratney spent is postwar childhood “in Short trousers and Fair Isle jumpers.“He remembers studying for his 11 plus exam, before going to grammar school, and then on to study History and Political Science and at Trinity College in Dublin.He is married with three grown up children and a teenage tortoise, and lives in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.Sam McBratney has won many awards for his children’s books and best known as the author of the multi-million selling Guess How Much I Love You which was short listed for the 1994 Kurt Maschler Award, and is now one of the world’s best selling picture books. I think this book is amazing; it is simple but has a very strong message.I think that children will benefit a lot from reading this book, because many children at one point of their lives think that their parents love their siblings more than they love them.I think this book is excellent; it can be for great use in the classroom.Different activities can come out of this book.I will definitely recommend this book for the classroom library. Review by Monica Avila 6/22/08
Annotated Bibliography
PART I
#1
Bethel, Ellie, Michael Recycle. San Diego, CA: Jonas Publishing/Worthwhile Books, 2008. 30 pages. Ages: 5-13. Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction/Fantasy. Language: English.
Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel and illustrated by Alexandra Colombo is a book that talks about a super hero, Michael who comes to this town where there was no green and all the garbage was on the street, and were it never smell fresh, and where the people living there did nothing to fix the problem. But all this change when a green light came to this dirty town, it was Michael who had come and made the people of the town aware of the danger they were living in. Michael taught them how to clean and how to recycle to help the earth have a bright and longer future. Ellie Bethel was eleven when her first poem was published. She was born in Britain, but now lives in New York.
This is a great book to have in the classroom. The illustrations are great; it is very colorful. I like this book because it can help students learn the importance of recycling. The print of the book is big and colorful; it allows students to see what could happen if we do not take care of the earth and at the same time, it allows students to feel like superheroes when they start to recycle. I think this book is wonderful. We can integrate this book into reading, writing, science, and history. We can make many projects with this book. The cover is super, it is very tentative and once you open it, you want to finish it to see what else Michael is going to do and how is he going to do it. This book is a great book to have in the classroom.
Review by Monica Avila 6/01/08
#2
Flor Ada, Alma, Me llamo Maria Isabel. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995. 60 pages. Ages: 8-14. Genre: Non-fiction. Language: Spanish available in English.
Alma Flor Ada is the author of Me llamo Maria Isabel. This book talks about a girl who transfers schools after school has started. She is nervous because she thinks she is not going to have friends like she did in the other school. When she arrives at her new school her teacher changes her name to Mary, which she does not like and since she is given a name that is not hers, she gets in trouble for not answering when she is called by her new name. Maria Isabel wants to have friends and wants to be called by her name so made a wish. In one of her assignments she writes what she wants for Christmas and the teachers read it and then Maria Isabel is called by her name again. The writing is very detail and is easy to imagine the setting and create our own scene where things are happening. Alma Flor Ada is the founder and first editor in chief of NABE, Journal of the National Association for Bilingual Education. She has been active for many years in various professional associations including; IRA, International Reading Association, CRA, California Reading Association, CABE, California Association for Bilingual Education, USIBBY, US Branch of the International Board of Books for Young People. In 200 she received the Pura Belpre Award, 1998, Once Upon a World Award, 1997, Premio Mundial Jose Marti, 1997, Gold Medal, Folklore category, 1996, Latina Writers Awards and many more.
I loved this book. I think I have read it more than three times and every time I liked it more. I like this book because I can relate to Maria Isabel in the experience she had when transferring schools as well as the feeling of people changing my name. I like this book because I think that in the classroom many children can relate to the story. I also like this book because it is a way to engage students to talk about their feeling. This book also bring out the importance of respecting the differences in each culture and at the same time it shows the important it is to see students as individuals and unique persons. This book is great. With this book we are opening the door for students to talk more freely and to see possible ways to help students like Maria Isabel. I think that many projects can come out of this book, especially those related to cultural differences, and the identity and background of the students.
Review by Monica Avila 5/30/08
#3
Munoz-Ryan, Pam, Esperanza Rising. New York: Scholastic, Apple Paperbacks, 2007. 262 pages. Ages: 12 and up. Genre: Young Adult Novel. Language: English.
Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan is a book that talks about Esperanza a young girls who lives in Mexico and who thinks she is going to live there her whole life. Esperanza is happy where she is at, she has her parents and abuelitos with her, and she is enjoying life. Later Esperanza finds out she is moving to California looking for a better way of life. She is young and cannot work in the fields like her parents, but soon her mother becomes ill and Esperanza needs to find a way to help her family and rise from where she is at. Pam Muñoz Ryan is the winner of the Pura Belpre Award, Jane Addams Children’s Book Award Winner, ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, Lon Angeles Times Books Prize Finalist, New York Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Publisher weekly Best Book of the Year.
This is one of my favorites books, I completely relate to Esperanza. I think that this book is perfect for children who immigrated to this country leaving everything behind and starting a new life far away from home. I think this book is wonderful, it will help students see the struggles and achievements that immigrants go through and all because they are looking for a better way of life. I definitely want this book in my classroom; it is a book that I think all children need to read. First of all is a book that is easy to read, very detail that students can imagine the setting and put themselves in Esperanza’s place. This story narrates the story of one child, which means that students will be interested in writing their own stories. This book can open the doors for students to become a better writers and why not maybe future writers. I love this book I think every classroom should have this book in the library. Many good projects can come out of this reading. We just need to wait and see the responses of the students and from there we as teacher can get the ideas for future projects that include this book. A very nice book, I will definitely recommend it.
Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08
#4
Pellzer, Dave, A Child Called “IT”. Deerfield Beach, Florida: Health Communications, 1995. 184 pages. Ages: 15 and up. Genre: Chapter book/Survival story. Language: English.
A child called “IT” written by Dave Pelzer is a narration of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. This book is the story of Dave Pelzer who was abuse by her mother and neglected by his father. Dave saw his father as his super hero and was expecting his father to help him to stop the abuse but as time went by, his father couldn’t help him, and he will just sit there and watch how his wife abused him. This story is very sad and it shows how Dave was asking for help silently because he was afraid of reporting what his mother was doing to him because he would get bitten up or starved to death, or his mother will give him ammonia to drink. In this book they talk about how a child can be wrongly label and because of his label no help is provided to him, he is seen as the bad boy who doesn’t showers or changes clothes, the child who all the other children make fun of, without knowing what is really happening to him. In this book they also provide additional information and sources of where to go and get help. Dave Pelzer is the #1 New York Times and #1 International Best selling author and Recipient of the 2005 National Jefferson Award. Dave was honored as one of the Ten Outstanding Americans. In 1994 Dave was the only American to be honored as the Outstanding Young Person of the World. In 1996 he carried the coveted centennial flame for the Olympic games. Dave is the author of six inspirational books two of which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. As an author Dave is the first to have four #1 International Best Sellers and to have four books simultaneously on the New Your Times Best Seller List.
I think this book is a good book for older children. This is a strong book and many people could get bad ideas of how to torture other students therefore special care should be given to this book. I think that this book is a book that can be used in the classroom but always-reminding students why this book is been read. I think this book can help students who are been abuse by their caretakers. I think this book will help them see that there is hope and that it is very important to talk to their teachers or counselor if there are any similar problems with them. I think that this book could be used in the classroom as a special project.
Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08
#5
Piggy Toes Press, Good Morning, Good Night! Buenos dias! Buenas noches!. Atlanta, GA: Piggy Toes Press, 2005. 12 pages. Ages: 2 and up. Genre: Picture Book. Language: Bilingual (English/Spanish).
This book was illustrated by Melanie Mitchell and designed by Laurie Young. There is no author for this book, but Piggy Toes Press published this book. This is a touchable book, which is perfect for children because they can feel the soft, fluffy fur or each animal. This book is a bilingual book, English and Spanish. This book shows different animals, cats, dogs, little bunny, chick, lamb, and a child. The pictures show what each character of the book does in the morning and at night. There is repetition in the words used in the book. The sentences are short and the words are easy to read. Children can go page by page and they can feel the fur of each animal. The colors and drawings are very authentic.
I loved this book because the children can touch and feel in the book how touching a real animal would feel in reality. The detail pictures the fur that is included in the book is amazing. I liked this book because it can cover all learning styles, children can touch, see, and listen, I think this book is great, the colors, the details in the pictures and what I liked the most is that it can help students to learn a different language. This book is written in English and Spanish, children can become familiar with a new language and I think this book will help them to feel comfortable with the new language. This book can easily be incorporated in different areas, for example, language arts, math, science, and art. This book is small but has a lot to offer to the teacher and students. I will definitely recommend this book for the classroom.
Review by Monica Avila 5/30/08
#6
Reiser, Lynn, Tortillas and Lullabies. Library of Congress, 1998. 40 pages. Ages: 7-13. Genre: Traditional Literature. Language: English/Spanish.
Tortillas and Lullabies by Lyn Reiser and pictures by Corazones Valientes is a book that talks about a young girls who is describing what are some of the things that her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother did for their daughters, and how know she is doing it to her doll. This book talks about how to make tortillas, talks about the flowers, washing, and lullabies that were sang to her and the other woman in the family. The book has colorful pictures and good combination of colors. This book relates the traditions and common activities that are pass on generations over generation. Lynn Raise was born in Charlote, North Carolina, she created her first picture book with no words later she added the words and ever since she enjoys putting together a book. Reiser is also a doctor and a professor at a university. She is acclaimed for children books, including the bilingual books “Margarita y Margaret; The lost Ball/La pelota perdida”.
This book is a very nice and easy to read book. I like the pictures, they are very colorful and the best part is that the pictures represent how traditions are carried over generation after generation; even the simplest one is remember. I like how they show the relationship between mothers to daughters, and how the traditions are pass on. I think this book ca be very useful in class it can easily be integrated into different areas; language arts, history, social science, and many more. I personally like this book because it brought me memories from when I was a child and I visited my grandmother as well as when my mother was making tortillas, I was always there so I could eat a tortilla right after it was done. Those are good memories. This book can either bring students memories back or it can activate students’ curiosity to see and know what their grandmothers did with their mother or father. I think this is an excellent book to have in the classroom; many uses can be given to it.
Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08
#7
Rossetti-Shustak, Bernadette. I Love You Through and Through. New York: Scholastic, 2005. 23 pages. Ages: 0-6. Genre: Picture Book. Language: English.
In this colorful and simple picture book, Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak presents a book about how much parents love their little babies. The books shows how children are loved no matter where they are or what they do. If they are happy, or sad, if they are inside or outside, if they are silly or mad, they loved every part of them even the smallest part of the babies is loved by their loved ones. The pictures talk for themselves, the pictures are very detail and colorful, the pictures relates to the feeling and place that is been talk about. The book was illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church. Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak assistant to the Head of School, she created and was the editor of Mizzen-topics, she school’s weekly newsletter. She majored in English and then Business at County College of Morris, Dover, New Jersey. Bernaddette Rossetti-Shustak is a published children’s author and the recipient of a 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award.
I really like this book “I Love You Through and Through” by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak. I think that this book is great to have in our classroom, because it is simple and children can just look at the pictures and make their own story, I also like it because it has small sentences, and the words are very easy to remember. This book has also repetition, which I think is great especially for smaller children. I think at this age children are very closed to their caretakers and this book will help them bring memories of their own or give them ideas of what to do or say to their love ones. I like this book because the pictures are very nice and the colors are beautiful. The children can find out the meaning of a word just by looking at the pictures. I think this is a great book to have in the classroom or at home. This book can be of many uses in the classroom.
Review By Monica Avila 5/30/08
#8
Sendak, Maurice, Where The Wild Things Are. Library of Congress, 1963. 44 pages. Ages: 5-9. Genre: Picture Story Book. Language: English, available in Spanish.
Where the Wild Things Are was written and created by Maurice Sendak, whom also created the pictures. This book is the winner of the Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year. This book is about a boy whose imagination is very powerful, he dreams he has supper powers and can dominate the most savage bests. Max was grounded for disobeying his mother and he is sent to his room with no food, there in his room he starts to imagine he is in a forest and soon he is the king of the monsters and has his own ship. The pictures of this book are excellent, the reading is easy and children can use the pictures to understand the words. Maurice Bernard Sendak is an America writer and illustrator of children’s literature, he is best know for his book “Where the Wild Things Are”, He received in 1964 the Caldecott Medal for his book “Where the Wild Things Are”, In 1970 he won the Hans Christian Andersen Awards for children’s book illustration, an din 2003 he shared the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award with Christine Nostlinger, the first time it was awarded. In 2009 a live action feature length film of Where the Wild Things Are is planned.
At first I didn’t like this book much because the cover was not to tempting. I looked at it and put it to the side. Then I decided to open the book and scan through it, well good thing that I did. This book is nice not for nothing is the winner of the Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book of the year. I like this book because I think all the children dream of what Max is dreaming in this book. It is also nice to see that Max has achieved what he wanted; be the king of the monsters but later he realizes that he missed his family and the food and wants to come back, I think that the message this books gives is very powerful, children can dream all they want as long as they realize that it is only a dream. I will loved to have this book in my classroom, but what I liked the most is that this book is also in Spanish. Yeah, it is a good book.
Review by Monica Avila 5/30/08
#9
Smith, Charles R. Jr., The Mighty 12 Super Heroes of Greek Myth. New York: Hachette Book, 2008. 48 pages. Ages: 11-15. Genre: Historical Fiction. Language: English.
The Mighty 12 Super Heroes of Greek Myth by Charles R. Smith Jr. and illustrated by P. Craig Russell is a book that talks about the Greek Gods and Goddesses. The illustrations create a magical view and the book is written as a poem. This book talks about the gods and goddesses of the Olympus and the super power that they suppose possessed. The drawings are very details and it is easy to run our imaginations as we read the poems describing each and everyone of the gods and goddesses. Charles R. Smith Jr. is the acclaimed creator of many books for kids of all ages. Some of these titles include Rimshots, I am America, and Twelve Rounds to Glory: The story of Muhammad Ali. HE received the 2008 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award, 2008 Norman Sugarman Best Biography Honor Book.
The first thing I liked about this book was the cover; the cover is very tentative. The drawing on the cover is amazing it made me wanted to read it. I think this is good because children go by the cover, if they see a book’s cover and they like it they will pick the book, but if they don’t like the cover they wont even open the book. This book is very nice because its drawings are very comic like, but what I liked the most is the way in which the text is written, the text is written in a poem form. It is nice and interesting. I think this book is good because it is something the children are interested in and besides learning Greek Mythology they are going to be reading and learning about poems and everything related to it. This is a nice book to have.
Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08
#10
Thompson, Gare, Who was Helen Keller?. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, 2003. 107 pages. Ages: 12 and up. Genre: Non-Fiction/Chapter book. Language: English.
Who was Helen Keller? by Gare Thompson and illustrated by Nancy Harrison is a book that describes the life of Helen Keller. This book is a Biography of a woman (Helen Keller) who was blind and deaf, but that did not stop her from achieving her goals and become someone important in the world. She was assisted by one of her teacher Annie Sullivan. Helen Keller achieved success and fame and her blindness and deafness did not stop her. Gare Thompson has over 25 years of publishing experience, holding executive positions at Scholastic and Sundance. He is an award winning children’s author and playwright and is a frequent speaker at national and state reading conferences.
I like this book because the print is big and it is written in chapter format. I like this book because it is an informational book. Children will like to read it because it is easy to read and is small. Children will not even know that they are learning. The book is very nice and it has pictures on every page. The book is black and white, which I don’t like much because I preferred colorful pages, but in this case with this book it, is nice, the black and white go with the era that this book is talking about. This book can be very useful for children. I will for sure have this book in my classroom library. I think this book will engage students’ enthusiasm and they will be willing to learn more about other famous people. I loved this book.
Review by Monica Avila 6/1/08
Monica Avila
Annotated Bibliography
Part II
#1
Anonymous, Nursery Rhymes. San Diego, CA: Silver Dolphin, Advantage Publishers Group, 2003. 22 pages. Ages: 3-6. Genre: Poetry/Rhymes. Language: English.
Nursery Rhymes is a collection of illustrated nursery rhymes and children’s poetry written by different authors. This book was illustrated by Susie Lacome. This has short rhymes and poems that can be used with students. The book is very colorful and the surface of the book is very smooth and touchable. The pictures that go with the rhymes and poem are pretty.
I loved this book; the pictures and the texture of the book are beautiful. Children will love this book. The nursery rhymes and the poems are easy to remember and you can use them with a song rhythm. The rhymes are very contagious and children will enjoy reading or singing the rhymes and looking at the pictures. I will definitely recommend this book for the classroom library.
Review by Monica A. 6/20/08
#2
Anzaldua, Gloria, Friends from the Other Side/Amigos Del Otro Lado. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press/Libros para niños, 1993. 30 pages. Ages: 7-14. Genre: Contemporary realistic fiction. Language: Bilingual English/Spanish.
Friends from the Other Side/Amigos del Otro Lado by Gloria Anzaldua and illustrated by Consuelo Mendez. This is a bilingual book English/Spanish. This book is about a brave Mexican American girl, who defends Joaquin her new friend from the neighborhood kids who are shouting “wetback” “mojado.” Gloria Anzaldua is a major Mexican American literary voice. Anzaldua was born in Rio Grande Valley of south Texas and die for diabetes complications. She suffered from racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression as she was growing up. She lost her father at the age of 14. Graduate from Pan American University with her BA and then received her M.A. form University of Texas at Austin. Anzaldua has received the following awards: Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, Lambda Lesbian Small Book Press Award, Lesbian Rights Award, Sappho Award of Distinction, National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Award, and American Studies Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
I liked this book because many students will be able to relate to the story. I was able to relate to the story and it brought me back memories. I like this book because it can be incorporated into many different areas and I think is a good inspiration for students to talk or write about their feelings and possible ways to help new comers. This book can be used for 2nd up to 6th or 7th grade, the illustrations are nice and the combination of colors is great. I think that this book is a must have in the classroom library.
Review by Monica Avila 6/20/08
#3
Anzuldia, Gloria, Prietita and the Ghost Woman/Prietita y La Llorona. San Francisco, CA: Children’s Book Press/Editorial Libros Para Niños, 1995. 30 pages. Ages: 6-13. Genre: Traditional literature/Fiction. Language: Bilingual English/Spanish.
Prietita and the Ghost Woman/Prietita y La Llorona written by Gloria Anzaldua and illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez is a book about a young Mexican American girl, becomes lost in the forest on her search for and herb to cure her mother and the Ghost woman helps her find her way back to her family. Gloria Anzaldua is a major Mexican American literary voice. Anzaldua was born in Rio Grande Valley of south Texas and die for diabetes complications. She suffered from racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression as she was growing up. She lost her father at the age of 14. Graduate from Pan American University with her BA and then received her M.A. form University of Texas at Austin. Anzaldua has received the following awards: Before Columbus Foundation American Book Award, Lambda Lesbian Small Book Press Award, Lesbian Rights Award, Sappho Award of Distinction, National Endowment for the Arts Fiction Award, and American Studies Association Lifetime Achievement Award.
This book is nice because it talks about the common myth of La Llorona. I think many children have heard of La Llorona and they can easily be involved on a discussion about it; they can also write their own stories or create a new one. I think this book is also good because it talks about how this young girl goes beyond her capacity to help her mother and she is not afraid and does not give up. I really like this book, and the pictures and colors and beautiful. I recommend this book for our own reading as well as to have in the classroom library. Another good think about this book is that is bilingual English and Spanish.
Review by Monica Avila 6/20/08
#4
Anzaldua, Gloria, Borderland/La Frontera. 3rd Edition. San Francisco, CA, 1987. 246 pages. Ages: 14-adults. Genre: Non Fiction. Language: English/Spanish.
Borderland/La Frontera written by Gloria Anzaldua and first published in 1987. This book as become a classic in Chicano border studies, feminist theory, gay and lesbian studies, and cultural studies. According to Anzaldua, “The essays and poems in this volume profoundly challenge how we think about identity.” Gloria Anzaldua is a Chicana, a lesbian, and activist, and a writer.
I loved this book because it makes you think on what is really happen at the borders. And how many people do not see what is really happening. This book is really good to use in class starting from 7th grade all the way up to college. With this book students can engage in many different activities and it will make them want to do something about the situation. Many projects can come out of this book. This book is a must have book. Also even though I said if for higher grades, some of the poems or essays can be given to smaller children and they can also participate in different activities and projects with this book. This book can be integrated into Language arts, Social studies, Political science, and I think in art, math, well it can be included in almost all subject areas. A very good book in the classroom library or even at home.
Review by Monica Avila 6/21/08
#5
Blanco, Jodee, Please Stop Laughing at Me. Avon, MA: Adams Media an F+W Publications Company, 2003. 276 pages. Ages: 13 and up. Genre: Survival Story. Language: English.
Please Stop Laughing at Me written by Jodee Blanco is an inspirational story. This is the first book written by a survivor of peer abuse. This powerful, unforgettable memoir chronicles how one child was shunned and even physically abuse by her classmates from elementary school through high school. Jodee Blanco is a faculty member of New Your University’s Center for Publishing and the President and a founding partner of Blanco & Peace Enterprise, LTD., one of the nations’s most respected public relations firms.
I think this book is great for students because it touches an important issue that many students at one point of their lives have lived; either as the bully or the bullied. The vocabulary on the book is simple and it gives a lot of details. I will definitely recommend this book to have in the classroom library. This book can be adapted to the language arts, social science, psychology, and other subject areas. I think this book is good to have and I will definitely recommend this book for our own library and for the classroom library.
Review by Monica Avila 6/21/08
#6
Clair, Chip St., The Butterfly Garden. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 2007. 250 pages. Ages: 15 and up. Genre: Survival Story. Language: English.
The Butterfly Garden written by Chip St. Clair is a memoir of a child who was physically and mentally abuse. This book narrates the story of a child who suffers abuse from his own parents and does not even know why. Chip St. Clair is the recipient of a U.S. Congressional Record for his ardent advocacy on behalf of abused and neglected children and fights to keep child predators behind bars. He began sharing his story nationally in 2002, and has been feature on network television programs such as Dateline and Good Morning America. He has fought relentlessly for tough legislation aimed at protecting children, most recently helping to pass Montana’s, Maryland’s and Michigan’s version of Jessica’s Law; a law inspired by the kidnapping, rape, and murder of nine year old Jessica.
This book can be used in the classroom to make students aware of what is been physically and mentally abuse, so they can be aware and know the signs of neglect as well as knowing how there is help for those people and what they can do to prevent this from happening to them. I think this book is very good and I will recommend this book for our own reading as well as to encourage students to read it. From this book many activities can come out it. I will definitely recommend this book for the classroom library and even more for an assigned reading. This book is sad but if used correctly it can be of great use.
Review by Monica Avila 6/21/08
#7
Comer, Karen, My Nursery Rhymes Collection. Heatherton Victoria, Australia, 2006. 246 pages. Ages: 4-12. Genre: Poetry/Rhymes. Language: English.
My Nursery Rhymes Collection is a collection of rhymes by different authors but edited by Karen Comer and illustrated by Anton Petrov, Andrew Hipgood, Melissa Webb, Gerald Taylor, Geoff Cook, Bill Wood, and Marten Coombe. This book is a book of illustrated nursery rhyme that offers to parents and children the joy of reading all the best loved rhymes, as well as discovering some of the less familiar ones. This book is divided into twelve themes, such as farm animals, numbers and action rhymes, creating shorter sections to suit the attention span of young readers.
This book is amazing, the pictures that go with each rhyme is very detail and says a lot of the rhymes. The use of colors and the way the pages is arranged is very provocative and beautiful to enjoy. You would not get tired of looking at the pages over and over again. I think that children will enjoy this book very much. I will definitely recommend this book to have in the classroom library. I really liked this book; you can make good use of this book in the classroom.
Review by Monica Avila 6/21/08
#8
Grogan, John, Bad Dog, Marley!. Harper Collins Publishers, 2007. Ages: 3-8. Genre: Picture Story Book. Language: English.
Bad Dog, Marley! Written by John Grogan and illustrated by Richard Cowdrey is a picture story book for ages 3-8. The pictures and use of colors is interesting. This book is about how a family receives a new puppy and the hard work it takes to train the puppy not to destroy the house. Richard Cowdrey is an award winning newspaper columnist and a former editor in chief of Organic Gardening magazine. He lives with his wife and three children, and their new dog, Gracie, in the Pennsylvania countryside. His first book, Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World’s Worst Dog, is a #1 international bestseller with 3 million copies in print and rights sold in more than two dozen languages.
I think this book is very funny and many students will be able to relate to the story in one way or the other. The pictures and the colors are very attractive and the writing is easy to read and understand. This book can be used in the classroom and many activities can come out of it; for example: writing their own book about a pet they have or had, the experiences they went through. Another activity could be an outing to a dog house, or having a dog come in to the classroom. I think this book allows the opportunity to be creative and use our imagination, but at the same time we can refer back to our own experience with a pet. I will recommend this book; it is very funny and creative.
Review by Monica Avila 6/22/08
#9
Lewis, Clives Staples, Narnia Chronology: From the Archives of the Last King. New York, NY, 2008. 32 pages. Ages: 7-16. Genre: Contemporary Fantasy. Language: English.
Narnia Chronology from the Archives of the Last King is an interactive timeline based on the books by C.S. Lewis and illustrated by Pauline Baynes, Mark Edwards for Artist partners and Chris Hahner for Artful Doodlers. This book is full of fantasy and the pictures are wonderful. This book has pop ups and pull tabs which makes this book more interesting and amazing. This book is very children friendly and young adult interesting. C.S. Lewis was an Irish writer and scholar. Lewis’s works are diverse and include medieval literature, Christian apologetics, literary criticism, radio broadcasts, essays on Christianity, and fiction relating to the fight between good and evil.
I loved the way this book has the pop ups and pull up tabs, the color and the illustrations are amazing. I think this book is very children and young adult calling. The colors are very colorful and the way the book is arranged is very nice. This book is full of fantasy and it invites students to use their own imagination. This book allows students to use their imagination which is nice because this can activate students’ interest in writing their own stories and creating their own books. I will recommend this book to have in the classroom library. I personally loved the book, starting from the cover to the last page. This book caught my attention just by looking at the cover and once you open it up it will make you want to read just to keep looking at the illustrations. A really nice book; I will definitely recommend this book to have in the classroom library.
Review by Monica Avila 6/22/08
#10
McBratney, Sam, You’re All My Favorites. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2004. 31 pages. Ages: 6-11. Genre: Picture Story Book. Language: English.
You’re All My Favorites is a book written by Sam McBratney and illustrated by Anita Jeram. This is picture story book that talks about how mothers love all their children the same and it does not matter how different or similar they are. The pictures in the book are great and the writing is simple. Sam McBratney spent is postwar childhood “in Short trousers and Fair Isle jumpers. “He remembers studying for his 11 plus exam, before going to grammar school, and then on to study History and Political Science and at Trinity College in Dublin. He is married with three grown up children and a teenage tortoise, and lives in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Sam McBratney has won many awards for his children’s books and best known as the author of the multi-million selling Guess How Much I Love You which was short listed for the 1994 Kurt Maschler Award, and is now one of the world’s best selling picture books.
I think this book is amazing; it is simple but has a very strong message. I think that children will benefit a lot from reading this book, because many children at one point of their lives think that their parents love their siblings more than they love them. I think this book is excellent; it can be for great use in the classroom. Different activities can come out of this book. I will definitely recommend this book for the classroom library.
Review by Monica Avila 6/22/08